Thermal retarder switch unit



Nov. 6, 1945. c. M. osTl-:RHELD 2,388,564

THERMAL RETARDER SWITCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTUR.

ZAM @57m/faz? M777 @gt/g' Y Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERMAL RETARDER SWITCH UNIT poration ot Delaware Application November 22, 1943, Serial N0. 511,387

-re claims.

My invention relates to electric heating and particularly to control devices to be used in control systems for electric water heaters.

An object of my invention is to provide a thermal retarder heater control switch unit adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relation to a hot water tank to selectively cause ener- Sitation of an electric heater for the tank either immediately or with a time delay period in ac cordance with the amount of withdrawal of hot water from the tanlr.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thermal retarder heater control switch unit com prising a iii-st expansion member, a second expanslon member. of diiferent thermal expansivity and a switch member actuabie by the two expansion members to control a tank water heater.

Other objects of my invention will either be apparent irom a description of one form of device embodying my invention or will be pointed out in the course ci' such description and set forth particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Elgure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of a hot water tank having operatively associated therewith a device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the control circuits with the contacts in position when the tank contains hot water at its center portion, and cold water at the bottom portion just before the start of an oif-peak period,

Fig, 3 is a. fragmentary diagram of a circuit showing a manually-adjustable rheostat connccted in series with a retarder heating coil,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a thermal retarder unit mounted on a tank, with its cover shown in section and with the contact in closed position as when the thermal retarder is subject to cold water,

Fini. 5 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the parts shown in F18. 9

Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryfront view of the retarder case showing an adjusting button for the resistance coil shown in Hg. 3,

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view on 'the line 9 9 of Fig. 5 with the position of the contact of the switch as when the tank contains hot water at the center portion, and,

Fig. 10 is the same as Fig. 4 except showing the 7 is a sectional view on, the line 1-1 of .adjustable rhecstat ci' Fig. 3 and with the contact about to assume the closed position.

Referring first of all to Fig. l. of the drawings, I have there shown a domestic hot water tank il which may be provided with a cold water inlet pipe I3 at the lower end thereof and with an upper hot water outlet pipe l5. The tank il may be surrounded by a mass i1 of heat nsulation, such as mineral Wood, which may be held in proper operative position around the tank ii by an outer casing i9 all in a .manner now well known in the art.

I provide an electric heater 2i which may he oi any suitable kind now well known in the art hut is illustrated as a clamp-on heater engaging the outer peripheral surface of the tank and positioned in a tunnel member 23. While I have shown only a single heater I do not desire to be limited thereto but when only a single electric heater is used it will be mounted at the lower end portion of the tank.

I provide a rst thermally-actuable heater control switch designated generally by the numeral 25 and comprising a tube 21 having a closed inner end and having its open outer end portion secured in fluid-tight relation in an opening in the tank immediately above the heater 2|. An cxpansion rod 29 is positioned within the tube 21 and is adapted to engage a block Il of electricinsulating material mounted on the free end of a resilient contact bar 33 which is normally in contacting engagement with a substantially rigid bar 35 but may be disengaged therefrom by expansion of the expansion rod 29. I may support the two contact arms I3 and 35 as by blocks 31 of electric-insulating material. I desire it to be understood that showing of the lower thermally-actuable heater control switch is schematic only and that I may use any other form of device effective for the same purpose, which purpose is toycause closure of the switch when the tube 21 is subject to cold water (the temperature of which may be assumed to be on the order of '10 F.) and to be in open position when subject to hot water in the tank, the temperature of which may be assumed to be on the order of Il'.

I provide a time controlled switch unit 39 which includes a subsynchronous electric motor ll, the terminals of which may be connected to two supply circuit conductors I3 and 45. A worm 41 `is positioned on the end of the rotor shaft of motor 4| and engaged with a worm gear IS which is mounted on a suitable shaft 5I. The shaft 5| has xedly mounted thereon a cam disc 53 having a xed radius for substantially three-quarters of its periphery, the other quarter being of some- It is to be understood that the design, construcy tion and operation of vthe time controlled switch unit 39 is such that cam disc 53 will be rotated through one complete turn of 360 during a twenty-four hour day, and further that the peripheral extent of portion 55 is substantially that of an ofipeak period on the lines of the station to which the supply circuit conductors t3 and d5 are connected. Usually the o-peak period is adjudged to extend from substantially 12 midnight to 6 a. m. However, I do not desire to be limited to this since the cam disc 53 may have other o-peak portions thereof similar to and spaced from the portion 55, and the peripheral extent of portion 55 may be greater, extending from say 10 p. m. to 7 a. m. in accordance with the ideas of the engineers of the electric supply company.

A heater control switch actuable by the cam discV 53 includes a substantially resilient contact arm 51 having a lug 55 of electric-insulating material mounted thereon at its free end and adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the cam disc 53, the major portion of which is of smaller radius to hold the contact arm 51 out of engagement with a substantially rigid contact arm 5 i, the two contact arms being held in proper operative positions relative to each other as by a block or blocks of electric-insulating material 53. It is to be understood that when lug 55 engages the peripheral portion 55 of cam disc 53 the two contact arms 5l and 5| will be in contacting and circuit closing position.

I provide a thermal retarder heater control switch unit 6B comprising a block 65 of heatconducting material having high thermal conductivity. Block 65 may be held against the outer surface of a block 51 of high heat-conducting metal or alloy which may be secured against the outside surface of the tank as by welding seams 69. It is to be understood that the inner surface of block 51 has an arcuate shape so as to .providea large area of contact with the outside surface of the tank. Here again I do not desire to be limited to the use of welding seams but vmay use any other means for obtaining a heat-conducting path of low thermal reluctance between the tank i I and the supporting block 65, which may be secured to block 61 as by a plurality of machine screws 1|. Supporting block 55 may be provided with an opening 'I3 therein to receive the reduced lower end portion of a rst expansion rod 'l5 which is preferably made of a high-expansion material, such as aluminum.

I provide a supporting block 'H of heat-insulating and electric-insulating material which may be held against theouter surface of block 65 as by machine screws 'I9 and may be of asbestos lumber or Micalex. Block l1 is provided with an opening 8| therein to receive the lower reduced end portion of a second expansion rod 83 which is of lesser thermal expansivity than rod 'l5 and may be made of a nickel steel or of a chrome steel. The second expansion rod 83 is supported by heat-insulating supporting block to extend substantially parallel with the first expansion rod 75 and spaced therefrom a short distance.

Rod 83 is provided with a bore 55 therein in which may be located a support 8T of electricinsulating material which is arranged to have mounted thereon a low-wattage heating coil 89. Bore 35 extends from the lower end of rod 83 to substantially the upper end thereof, although here again I do not desire to be limited to the location of heating coil 89 within a bore 55. All

outer heat-insulating casing 9| is provided around the second expansion rod 83 not only to make the rod more or less independent of the temperature of the ambient air but also to permit of using a low-wattage heating coil, as well as to prevent affecting the other parts of the thermal retarder switch unit by the heat of coil 89.

The end portions of heating coil 85 may be connected to terminals 93 which may be mounted on a block 95 of electric-insulating material supported by the lower portion of support S5, or in any other suitable or desired manner.

The reduced upper end portion @l of rod 'l5 mayhave iixedly secured thereto a laterally-extending arm 99, while the reduced upper end portion |0| of the second expansion rod 53 may have rigidly secured thereto an arm |83. These two laterally-extending arms on the two expansion rods extend to within a short distance from each other.

A switch controlled jointly by the two exparr sion rods 'l and 53 includes an upper toggle member |55, of substantially L-shape, which comprises two arms It? spaced apart as by an upper short rod |59 rigidly secured to the two arms lill at the upper end of a vertically-extend ing portion oi the toggle arm. The upper inner end portion of the substantially horizontallyextending portion is pivotally supported as by trunnions and H3 extending through the two arms |07 and into the arms 55 and |55 respectively.

A lower toggle member |85 has pivotal engagement,.at its upper end, with the lower end portions of the arms |01 and an over center spring H1 connects the two in a manner well known in the art and used for snap acting operation. The upper end of spring is connected to a cross bar H9 extending through the two arms 40 'i below the upper cross rod |09, while the lower member |2l.

end of spring i i is connected to the intermediate portion of lower toggle arm H5.

I'he lower end of toggle arm H5 has mounted thereon a cross bar i 2|, the inner surface oi which has secured thereagainst a contact bridging member |23 insulatedly mounted against Contact bridging member |23 is adapted to engage with and be disengaged from two contact terminals |25 and |21. A stop member |29 which may have the shape of a machine screw is supported by a bracket I3! with which it has screw-threaded engagement and in which it may be held in adjusted position as by a lock nut |33. Bracket |3| may be held in proper operative position as by a plurality of machine screws i35 holding it against the lower surface of block l1. I provide a suitable outer casing |31 to cover the thermal retarder switch unit.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings I have there shown that supply circuit conductor i3 is connected with contact arm 6| as by a conductor |39. Contact arm 51 is connected by a conductor with contactterminal |27 as well as with one terminal of the heating coil 89. The other terminal of the 'heating coil 89 is connected by a conductor |63 with one terminal of the electric heater 2| and with the rigid contact bar 35. The resilient contact bar 33 is connnected by a conductor I 45 with supply circuit conductor d5. 'Ihe other terminal of heater 2l is connected by a conductor |51 with contact terminal |25. In order to vary the amount of heat generated in heating coil 89 I may provide an adjustable rheostat |49 which, as may be seen in Fig. 10 of the drawings, may be supported on a bracket |5| seassasoo cured to bracket III in such position that an oi casing |31. y

The conditions under which the thermal re tarder heater control switch must operate may be briey stated as follows:

'I'he timer controlled switch is adapted to maintain the energizing circuit for heater 2i in closed operating condition during the oil-peak periods of a twenty-four hour day and, for illustrative purposes, the oil-peak periods may be considered to extend from 12 midnight to 6 a. m., although a particular electric-utility station may ilnd that it may have other oil-peak periods during a twenty-four hour day or that its oiI-peak period during the late night hours may be different than from 12 midnight to 6 a. m. The tank may -be filled with cold water either at the startoii' oi.' use thereof or at any time during use and operation or the system. In this case the lower thermally-actuable heater control switch 25 will be in closed position. The thermal retarder heater control switch unit will also be in closed position since the high expansion member 15 will be subject to the temperature oi cold water with the result that the length of this expansion rod will be a minimum whereby closure oi the switch controlled thereby is effected. The timer `controlled circuit switch including the contact arms 51 and 6l may be in open position ii the time is during an on-peak period or it may be closed, as will occur shortly after the time when the parts of the switch 39 are in the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Another condition is that when substantially all of the water in the tank is heated to a predetermined relatively high temperature, which may -be on the order oi 150 F., the lower thermal switch 25 is in open position, as is also the thermal retarder switch unit, since both expansion members are subject to the temperature oi hot water, and if this continues for a prolonged period their temperatureswill be on the order oi 150 F. with the result that the switch will be in open position.

Another condition is when a relatively small quantity of hot water has been withdrawn from the tank, the quantity oi.' cold water entering the tank being sufficient only to subject the lower heater control switch to cold water in which case the lower switch will be in closed position.

Another condition is that when a greater quantity of hot water hasheen Withdrawn from the tank with the result that the thermal retarder switch unit is subject to cold water in which case the switch actuated thereby will be in closed position.

`Let it be assumed that the tank has been illled with cold water` and that the time is substantially 12 midnight, or a short time thereafter, so that circuit switch comprising contact arms 51 and 6| will be in-closed position. The cold water will have closed the lower thermal switch 25 as well as the thermal retarder switch unit with the result that immediate energization oi the heater 2l will take place and the water in the tank will be heated up.

ter. This would cause temperature rise of the first expansion rod 1l and attendant increase in its length.

The closure of the timer controlled switch l! as well as o! the lower heater control switch 25 will cause energization of the heating coil 89 of the thermal retarder switch unit and it may be Y assumed, for illustrative purposes, that the rheostat IIB has been so adjusted that it will take three hours to have the temperature of the second rod 83 raised to a value of say 300 F., with attendant increase in its length to substantially the same as that of the rod 15 heated by heat conducted thereto from the hot water in the tank. Under these conditions the thermal retarder switch would remain in closed .position and energization of the heater 2i would continue tor say three hours more or until substantially all of the water in the tank is hot, when the lower switch 25 would open. Thus if all of the water in the tank were heated before 6 a. m. the heater 2i would be deenergized by the lower switch 25, but if not all of the water in the tank were heated up by 6 a. m., the heater 2i would be deenergized by opening of the timer controlled switch 38 at 6 a. m.

Ii the length of time required i'or the second expansion rod 83 to be heated enough to cause its length to be substantially equal to that of rod 15 (when the latter is subject to the temperature of hot water in the tank) should be four hours, the thermal retarder heater control switch would be moved to open position at the end of three hours, andwould remain in that position for one hour until the second rod reached a suiiiciently high temperature and increased length to cause reclosure of the thermal retarder switch and reenergization of heater 2i.

It is obvious that the wattage of the tank heater 2i relative to the size of tank l I will atleet the length of time required to heat all of the water in the tank. While I have shown a means to vary the length of time required to heat the second expansion rod to its maximum 'temperature, in actual use no such adjusting means would be installed, since the electric utility company would probably install a diierent heating coil for the second expansion element to ensure that the user would not adjust the device wrongly or unnecessarily.

Let it now be assumed that the tank was substantially iilled with hot water at the end of the off -peak period and that during the on-peak period only a relatively small amount of hot water was used, which withdrawal or hot water permits only sufficient ccld water to enter the tank to cause subjection of the tube 21 to cold water with the result of closing the lower switch 25.

During thev ori-peak period of the day closure of the switch 25 will have no result, but as soon as the timer controlled switch is closed at the start of an off-peak period energization of the heating coil 89 oi the thermal retarder switch unit will occur with the result that after an adjustably predetermined time period of delay the thermal retarder switch will be moved to closed position with the result of energization of heater 2i, and if the amount of cold water in the lower portion of the tank was such that it could be heated to a temperature of around F. within the off-peak period, deenergization of the heater 2| will be effected by opening oi control switch 26.

On the other hand, let it be assumed that the use of hot water was such as to cause the upper level of cold water in the tank to be above the point o1' connection or the thermal retarder switch to the tank, the thermal retarder switch as well as the lower thermally-actuable heater control switch would both be in closed position with the result that energization of heater 2! would occur immediately upon closure of the timer control switch at the start oi an off-peak period. A I

When this latter condition obtains, that is when sulcient cold water isA in the tank to subject the thermal retarder switch unit to cold water, the temperature of the water to which thermal retarder switch unit is subjected, may increase, during the heating-up of the cold water, to a temperature on the order of 115; and the design, construction and operation of the thermal retarder switch and particularly of the snap-acting switch member is such that this switch will remain in closed position to cause continuation of the energization of the heater 2l.

I wish to here point out that a Vcompanion case, l'lled as of even date herewith (S. N.v 511,386) and assigned to the same assignee as is the present case, covers the system including the lower thermally-actuable heater control switch, the timer controlled circuit switch and the thermal retarder heater control switch unit al1 connected in series circuit with each other and with the heater, while the present application covers more particularly the details of construction of the thermal retarder switch unit itself. Y

Various modications may be madein the details of construction of the thermal retarder switch unit without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and all such structures clearly coming within the appended claims are to be considered a part thereof.

I claim as my invention:

l. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising two xedly supported parallel-extending thermo-sensitive elements and a single switch operated by change in the relative thermal condition of the two elements, one of said elements being subject to heat exchange with water in the tank and means independent of the tank and of the position of said switch for exchangingv heat with the other element.

2. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a switch lever and two ixedly supported parallel-extending thermosensitive elements jointly supporting and mechanically acting upon the switch lever at dierent points one of said elements being subject to heat exchange with water in the tank and the other being subject to heat exchange independent of the tank and of the position of said switch.

3. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling thev energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a switch lever and two fixedly supported parallel-extending thermo-sensitive elements jointly supporting and mechanically acting on the switch lever at different points, one of said elements being adapted to be subject to heat interchange with water in the tank and means for changing the temperature of the other elements independent of the tank water temperature and of the position of said switch.

4. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a-switch lever and two xedly supported, parallel-extending thermoaseassa sensitive elements jointly supporting and mechanically acting upon the switch lever at diierent points, means for thermally connecting'one of said elements with the tank for heat exchange with the tank water and means for heating the other elemen directly independent of the tank water and of the position of said switch.

5. In a device of the class described a switch and means for operating said 'switch including two xedly supported, parallel-extending rods of different thermal expansion acting on the switch and means independent of the position of the switch for heating one of said rods.

6..A thermal retarder tank heater control switch operating device including two` :dxedly supported, parallel-extendingV diierently thermally-expansible elements acting jointly to mechanically operate the switch,'means for thermally connecting one of the elements with tank water and means independent of the position of the switch for heating the other element.

7. In a thermal retarder switch unit for a hot water storage tank heater, a switch arm and two actuating devices each including a thermally-expansible iixedly supported rod acting on the arm in the same direction at a different point from the other, means for connecting one of the devices for heat exchange with water in the tank and means independent .of the position of said switch for changing the temperature of the other device.

8. A thermal retarder switch unit for a hot water storage tank heater comprising two dissimilarly thermally-responsive xedly supported, parallel-extending elements, means for subjecting one of said elements to heat exchange with water in the tank and means for heating the other element independent of tank water and of the position of said switch, said switch being in closed position when the temperatures of the tw) elements are at substantially ordinary room va ue.

9. A thermal retarder switch unit for a hot water storage tank electric heater comprising two dissimilarly thermally-responsive xedly supported, parallel-extending elements, means for subjecting one of said elements to heat exchange with water in the tank and means for heating the other element independent of tank water, said switch being in closed position when the temperatures of the two elements are at substantially ordinary room value, and also when the two elements are at dierent predetermined relatively high values. y

l0. A thermal retarder switch unit for a hot water storage heater comprising two dissimilarly thermally-responsive iixedly supported, spaced, parallel-extending elements, means for subjecting one of said elementsl to heat exchange with water in the tank and means independent of the position of the switch for heating the other element independent of tank water, said switch being in open position when said one element is subject to hot water and said other element is at substantially ordinary room temperature.

11. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit for an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a rst fxedly supported thermallyexpansible means, a second fxedly supported thermally-expansible means, a fixed heat-insulating support for said second means, a heat-conducting support for said rst means adapted to be mounted in good heat conducting relation to the tank, an electric heatingV coil for said second means, a heater control switch movable by said two thermally-expansible means into closed position when said two thermally-actuable means are at substantially ordinary room temperature and when they are at different predetermined relatively high values.

12. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energiaation of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a ilrst high expansion rod, a second low expansion rod, a heat-conducting support for the first rod adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relatibn to a tank, a heating coil for said second rod, a heat-insulating support and cover for said second rod and a heater control switch movable by said two rods into' closed position when said iirst rod is subject to the temperature of cold water in a tank and said second rod is at. substantially ordinary room temperature.

13. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a ilrst high expansion rod, a second low expansion rod, a heat-conducting support for the first rod adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relation to a tank, a heating coil for said second rod, a heat-insulating support and cover for said second rod and a heater control switch movable by said two rods into closed position when said two rods are at diierent predetermined relatively high values.

14. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of van electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a first high expansion rod, a second low expansion rod, a heat-conducting support for the rst rod adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relation to a tank, a heating coil for said second rod, a heat-insulating support and cover for said second rod and a heater control switch movable by said two rods into closed position when said rst rod is subject to the temperature of cold water in a tank and said second rod is at substantially ordinary room temperature, and also when said iirst rod is subject to the temperature of cold water in the tank and said second rod is at a predetermined relatively high value.

15. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a ilrst high expansion rod, a second low expansion rod, a heat-conducting support for the rst rod adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relation to a tank, a heating coil for said second rod, a heat-insulating support and cover for said second rod and a heater control switch movable by said two rods into closed position when said two rods are at substantially ordinary room temperature and when the two rods are at diierent predetermined relatively high values. i

16. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit for an electric heater associated with a hot water tank, comprising a iirst thermally-expansible rod, a heat-conducting support for the iirst rod adapted to be mounted in heat-conducting relation to a hot water tank, a second thermallyexpansible rod, a heat-insulating support for said second rod supported by said heat-conducting support for said ilrst rod, a heating coil for said second rod and a switch lever pivotally supported by said rods and movable thereby into closed position when said two rods are at ordinary room temperature, movable into open position when both rods are at an intermediate temperature and movable into closed position when the two rods are at different predetermined relatively high temperatures.

1'?. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit for an electric heater operatively associated with a hot water tank, comprising a ilrst thermally-expanslble rod, a heat-conducting support for the rst rod adapted to be mounted in heatreceiving relation to a tank, a second thermallyexpansibie rod, a heat-insulating support for said second rod holding said second rod in parallel spaced relation to said ilrst rod and supported by said heat-conducting support for the iii-st rod, a heating coil for said second rod and a switch member operatively pivotally engaged at different points by said two rods and movable thereby into closed position when said two rods are at ordinary room temperature, movable into open position when said ilrst rod is subject to the temperature of hot water in the tank and said heating coil has been energized less than a predetermined length of time and movable into closed position when said iirst rod is subject to the temperature of hot water and said heating coil has been energized a predetermined length of time.

18. A thermal retarder switch unit for an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising a high-expansion rod, a heat-conducting support for said rod mounted in heat-receiving relation on a hot water tank, a low-expansion rod, a heatinsulating support for said low-expansion rod supported by said heat-conducting support, an electric heating coil for said low-expansion rod and a heater control switch member operatively supported .by said two rods and movable thereby into closed position when said two rods are at ordinary room temperature, movable into open position when said high-expansion rod is subject to the temperature oi hot water in the tank and said heating coil has been energized less than a predetermined length of time and movable into closed position when said high-expansion rod is subject to the temperature of hot water in the tank and said heating coil has been energized a predetermined length of time.

19. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit as set forth in claim 17 and including manually-actuable means for varying said predetermined length of time.

20. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit as set forth in claim 18 and including manually-actuable means for varying said predetermined length of time.

2l. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit comprising a high expansion thermallyexpansible element, a low expansion thermallyexpansible element, means for supporting said two elements in spaced parallel-extending relation to each other, a switch arm pivotally supported by said two elements and an electric heating coil on said low expansion element, said switch being in closed position when the temperatures of said elements are substantially the same andfon the order of 60 F. to 115 F., in open position when the temperatures of said elements are substantially the same and on the order of 150 F. and in closed position when thel temperature of the high expansion element is on the order of 150 F. and the temperature of the low expansion element is on the order of 250 F.

22. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit for a hot water storage tank heater comprising a switch, two dissimilarly thermally-expansible members connected to and acting on the switch, means for thermally connecting one of said members for heat exchange with water in the tank and a heating coil for the other member, said switch being adapted to be held in closed position when said one member is subject to cold water inthe tank, to be moved into open position when said one member is subject to hot water in the tank and to be moved into closed position with a predetermined time delay period upon energization of said heating coil when said one member is subject to hot water in the tank.

23. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit Vfor a hot Water storage tank heater comprisingV a switch arm, two dissimilarly thermallyexpansible rods, pivotally supporting said switch arm and acting thereon at diierent points, at least one of said rods being in close heat=receiv ing relation with the water in the tank and an electric heating coil for the other rod.

24. A therma1 retarder heater control switch unit for a hot water storage tank heater comprising a switch arm, two dissimilarly thermally-expansible rods, pivotally supporting said switch arm and acting thereon at different points, at least one of said rods being in close heat-receiving relation with the water in the tank and an electric heating coil for the other rod, said switch arm beingadapted to be held in closed position when the temperatures of said rods are at values on the order of 60 F. to 115 F., to be held in open position when the temperatures of said 6 escasas rods are at values on the order of F. and to be held in closed position when said one rod is at a temperature on the order of 150 F. and the other rod is at a temperature on the order of 250 F.

25. A thermal retarder heater control switch unit for a hot water storage tank heater. comprising two dissimilarly thermally-expansible rods xedly supported in spaced parallel-extending relation on a tank, a switch arm pivotally supported by said rods at two spaced points on the arm, at least one of said rods being in close heatreceiving relation with the water in the .tank and an electric heating coil on the other rod.

26. A thermal retarder switch unit for controlling the energization of an electric heater for a hot water tank, comprising two fixedly supported, spaced, parallel-extending thermo-sensitive elements and a switch supported jointly by said elements and operated by changes in the relative thermal condition of the two elements, one of said elements being subject to heat exchange with water in the tank and means independent of the tank and o! the position of said switch for exchanging heat with the other element.

CLARK M. OSTERHEID. 

